Beaufort Bombers: Wing Section Awaiting Assembly by Raymond McGrath, watercolour on canvas board

This is one of 16 watercolours Australian modernist architect Raymond McGrath made for his Official War Artist commission with the Ministry of Information, and one of two Beaufort Bomber subjects.

Describing McGrath as ‘one of few people in the country who can do a drawing of building construction that is at once accurate and beautiful’, artist John Piper recommended his commission. An established architectural author, McGrath proposed an illustrated book of aircraft under construction, which was ultimately too costly to produce. Instead, he made a series of watercolour drawings in different factories, including the Bristol Aeroplane Company, home of the Beaufort Bomber. From the Air Ministry allocation of works from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, 1947. Original accession number LD140. On loan from the RAF Air Historical Branch (MOD). Copyright: Crown (expired) / RAF Museum.